"All right. I get it. I'm doing a good thing. But I can't act like I don't know you. We're acquaintances. Emma said she wanted me to get to know you outside of work," I said.
"Well, that'll make things a bit easier. Any other bullshit I should know about before I flip over to Emma who's calling me for the third time now?"
"Nope. That's the end of my bullshit."
"For today," she said. "I guess I'll see you Wednesday then."
"Wednesday, it is. And remember, acquaintances."
"Oh, you don't have to remind me of that," she said. "Just make sure your hands understand where we're at that night."
"I'll do my best to inform them," I said, grinning.
"I'm answering Emma's call now. She's pissing me off."
"Good to know I'm not the only person who does that to you," I said, chuckling.
"I guess it runs in y'all's DNA. See you Wednesday evening," she said.
"See you then, beautiful."
Chapter 21
Sarah
"Well hello there. Fancy a phone call the day before D-Day. How can I help you?"
"Hey there, luscious. I was wondering if you were free for lunch today," Mason said.
"I suppose I could be. Today's interview was a very early taping with the time difference."
"Time difference? Sounds interesting," he said.
"It was. I got the chance to interview a few of our Navy soldiers stationed in Okinawa. The interview took place very early this morning. I'm free all day."
"Well, how does lunch at The Souffle Salon sound?"
"You can get us in for lunch there?" I asked.
"Beautiful, I could jet us off to get us lunch anywhere," he said.
"I can hear that smug little grin."
"And I can hear you pouring into your panties."
"Nope. I think that's all the blood rushing to your dick," I said.
"That, too. What do you say? Meet me there in an hour?" he asked.
"Sure. I'll see you then."
I rolled out of bed and rushed around to make myself look presentable. I changed my clothes quickly and washed my face, opting for a bit of neutral makeup before I tossed my hair up into a clip. I grabbed my things and slipped my feet into heels, wanting to stun him even at lunchtime. I wanted him to salivate over my body before we found somewhere private to go and enjoy one another.
After all, that was the arrangement.
I drove to The Souffle Salon and parked right beside his beautiful red convertible. I walked on in and found him sitting at a table near the window, and for a second, I panicked. Near the window? Someone was going to see us. We were already taking a chance with the paparazzi by dining right here in town. Did he not remember the rules we set forth?
By the time I was pulled from my own thoughts, I felt his hand slide into mine as he led me to the table.
"The windows are tinted on the outside," he said. "No one can look in and see us."
"Oh. Yes. That's right. Sorry, I just panicked there for a second."
"No need. With me, everything is already thought out. You just relax," he said, grinning.
"I take it you've had a good morning," I said.
"Yep. The latest product roll-out is happening, and we're projected to bring in two million dollars in revenue over the next year."
"Rollin' in the dough. That's nice," I said. "Have you given any thought to aligning your company with a charity?"
"Why do you ask? Do you have one in mind?"
"I'm more thinking along the lines of what a budding company should do to snag the younger generation. The older generations are easy. It has to work, and it has to be worth the price tag. With the younger generations, they want the best bang for their buck. But if they invest in a product, they want to make sure their purchase is going to help a cause."
"Oh, Sarah. If I wanted a woman's opinion," he said, grinning.
"You're such a dick," I said as I stifled a giggle.
"You actually have a good mind for business. I'm glad you're not my competition."
"I'd crush you like an ant if you were," I said.
"Oh, really? Is that what you think?"
"Yep. I also think we wouldn't be screwing one another if we were competition."
"See, that's the best part about competition, though. If they're shallow enough, a little bit of seduction goes a long way."
"Good thing I'm not shallow," I said.
"The way you salivate over my naked body in bed says otherwise," he said, smirking.
"I can appreciate a decent piece of art without coveting it just for its looks," I said.
"Decent? Oh, I'm hurt."
Lunch was fabulous. The conversation with Mason was easy. It was lighthearted and flirtatious. He kept calling me things like ‘beautiful' and ‘decadent'. It was easy to see how women fell for his charms. The way he looked at me with this mischievous glint in his eye as I talked about my work. The way he boasted about himself growing in the technological world while slowly sliding his foot toward mine underneath the table. It was like we gravitated naturally toward one another, like our banter and our senses of humor just aligned in all the right possible ways.
We bounced around from topic to topic while my head swam with thoughts of him.
That was a problem I was having lately, trying to get him out of my head. He was creeping into my dreams and popping up in my thoughts in the middle of the day. If I heard a funny joke or experienced something weird or random, I felt this odd tug to tell him about it. I kept shaking it from my system, shrugging it off as anticipation for this new world we were exploring together.
But even as I sat in front of him, I felt like I wasn't getting enough of him.
And that bothered me a bit.
You're just fuck buddies, Sarah. Keep it together.
"So, where have you gone to inside that head of yours?" he asked.
"Hmm?"
"I've been talking at you for the past four minutes and you look like you've got one foot in the grave. Is something wrong?" he asked.
"No. Not at all. I guess I'm just a bit tired from this morning. That damn interview had me up at three."
"Then, yes. I'd say you've earned your mile-long stare. Care to get out of here? Maybe go for a drive to clear your head? We could leave your car here and come back for it once we're done."
"Honestly? I think I just want to tumble onto my couch and turn on mindless television," I said.
"Care for some company while you do that?" he asked.
"You just want your dick sucked," I said, grinning.
"Not gonna lie, the offer stands. But, I'm more than willing to simply collapse with you and lay there in silence."
"You are?" I asked.
"I am."
I had to keep reminding myself that we were just fuck buddies. That all this was his attempt to get back to my apartment, so he could wiggle me out of my clothes. And I would've been all for it had I not been so tired. I had a full stomach, a glass of wine coursing through my system, and legs that were ready to collapse in the heels I was wearing. But the way he was looking at me, it was almost like he wanted me to say yes.
It was like he wanted to come back to my place and just be with me.
And I realized I wanted to say yes.
Shit. I was starting to like Mason. I sat back in my chair, studying his eyes as a smile crossed his face. I couldn't get him off my mind because I liked him. He was pervading my dreams because I wanted him there. He was in my thoughts throughout the day because I wished he was there.
Fuck. I'd gotten myself into the exact situation we were trying to avoid.
There's no pressure. No requirement for emotions. Just sex, fun, and food.
It was the perfect deal, and I was screwing it up. It was a deal any woman would scream for when it came to Mason Baker. I got his talents, his wallet, and his body wrapped around my little finger. All I had to do was call him and I could have him or whatever he wanted to gift me with whenever I wanted.
And here I was, fucking it up with my emotions.
"Sarah? Are you all right?" he asked.
As long as I didn't say anything about it, we could keep going like this. He didn't have to know, right? And maybe this was just a fluke. Maybe I was nervous about tomorrow night with Emma. After all, we were supposed to act like we were acquaintances. That was enough to stir up anyone's emotions.
Yes, that was what this was. And all I had to do was keep my fucking mouth shut on the matter.
"Seriously, if you come back with me, I'll just end up falling asleep on you. I'm more tired than I thought."
"And that's fine. If you don't want me there, say so. If you do, say so. That's all you have to do in this arrangement," he said.
There it was. Arrangement. That's all this was. Just an arrangement.
"Then, I wouldn't mind the company," I said. "I finally get to test out what kind of pillow you are."